Abe Koogler’s Off-Broadway play, Fulfillment Center,takes place in the desert of New Mexico. While the sky might be bright and the landscape vast, all four characters are aching to leave.

Suzan (Deirdre O’Connell) is a struggling singer who, as she says, did “alright for a little while” but never had great success. To get by she tries working at a mega fulfillment and distribution center. Meanwhile, her younger boss (Bobby Moreno) is dealing with his own agita, trying to salvage his relationship with his girlfriend (Eboni Booth). Then there’s the drifter (Frederick Weller) who lives at the same campground as Suzan. All of their lives are intertwined in this powerful drama from The Manhattan Theatre Club.

“The play is about small moments between these people,” says Deirdre O’Connell. “But I also feel that Abe has written a very large play about politics and ethics.”

O’Connell, a theater veteran, who plays Gab in the series The Path and had recurring roles on Nurse Jackie and The Affair, shared more about the hit play that has received rave reviews.

What do you like about Suzan?

O’Connell: She is a very adventurous and optimistic person. I was having a hard time understanding how she could keep moving forward when people seem to be saying to her, ‘Please stop talking.’ She is one of those people who could go up to a stranger and say, ‘Do you want to be my friend?’ I found that to be a real challenge. But there is also something very beautiful about that quality. She assumes that we would all take care of each other. Suzan had an adventurous life, but did not create a safe place for herself.

One day I was working on Suzan and thinking about her a lot. I decided to go into a 7-Eleven and just be Suzan and see what happens. Every person I saw said ‘hello’ to me. I don’t know what I was doing differently.

Your career has also thrived in film and TV. What do you like about doing theater?

O’Connell: I feel less self-conscious doing theater than I do almost anywhere else. Also, with theater, all we really know is that all these words must be said. We don’t know how they are going to be said. Also, you have to deeply understand the story. Ultimately, on stage, I am in charge of editing, making a part clear, moving this part along. Questions about how the story gets told is up to the actors. So we have a bigger responsibility, which I enjoy.How do you like to spend your time off?

O’Connell: On my day off I collapse. I like to sleep and eat. I read stories about what actors do with their Sundays — running around, having brunch, going to Central Park on their matinee day, but I can only do eight shows a week. I pretty much don’t do anything else. And on Mondays, when I’m off, I’m usually doing as little as humanly possible. I like when I don’t have to do anything. Then there is a chance that I’ll sort of feel like a normal person starting Tuesday and can get though the week.

Deirdre O'Connell and Frederick Weller in a scene from Fulfillment Center at Manhattan Theatre Club (Matthew Murphy)